Jacquilyn Strickland

November 5, 2018

Ethnography

Dental Students Can Make A Difference Too

PREFACE:

Tooth decay left untreated can cause consequential infection, this infection is not minor,

over time it will spread throughout your body causing flu-like symptoms. UIC takes pride in

being a worldwide leader in the education of oral health, research and clinical care. I got a

chance to experience the steps the students use to get them through their hectic days. The

dental clinic focuses on preparing future health professionals in an environment that revolves

around patient care in urban communities and they are making a difference by providing low-

cost medical services. UIC is focusing on bridging the gap between oral health and health care

by examining the role of bad oral health and the effect it has on the body. I’m curious about

the students on how they deal with a plethora of clients and how they affect the community. I

don’t believe they get the importance of their services they provide to the community and I'm

interested in finding out. The paper will examine the sociology regarding the driven dental

apprentices and their role they play in the Chicago area.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
 Scholars come from all over the map to be a part of the Doctor of Dental Medicine

innovative curriculum. There are about 430 students seeking degrees in DMD, Ph.D. and MS

programs. The clinic obtains about over 120 thousand visits annually, with about 300 faculty

and specialist dentist providing care alongside the students. UIC clinic is a staple in the

community because it treats over 56 thousand dental Medicaid recipients each year. Low-

income families surround the clinic, whether they have no insurance and/or insurance through

Medicaid. UIC strives to make it an environment that people can get a service done at a

discount because it's a learning facility. It is evident you still get the same treatment as you

would get at a regular office just instead a student will be doing the work as the teacher

supervises. “Promoting the concept that prevention or treatment of oral disease reduces

morbidity, prolongs survival, and reduces the cost of medical care is an attractive strategy for

patient recruitment and to justify insurance coverage for oral health care.” (Atchison). UIC is

not just a space for adults, but also children who are learning the importance of brushing their

teeth. The children are really a focal point in this program because the scholars educate over

two thousand youth about preventive health care. The community of scholars is committed to

diversity and social justice. Taking pride in having the most culturally rich college campus, it

makes it easier to relate to class backgrounds, ethnic, sexual orientations, and overall abilities.

OBSERVATIONAL DATA AND ANALYSIS:

25 October 2018 (2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.); 31 October 2018 (8:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.)

I luckily was able to not only observe but be a part of the clinic. I noticed an incoming

student has a lot to prepare for, the high expectations the program requires can be vigorous.
Being determined, focused and driven is essential in this robust environment. Being direct,

comprehensible, and humane is imperative because each patient that comes into the dental

clinic is different from the last. I witnessed it is significant that UIC focuses on making their staff

just as diverse as the client because it provides a certain comfort that anyone is welcomed and

understood. “Students from multiple health professions are able to collaborate in patient care

and develop skills in oral health, such as dental anesthesia and oral cancer screening.” (Simon).

Soon as you’re accepted into the program, your social life depletes, and you spend the next 4

years learning about human dentition, teeth restoration, root canal therapy, and the list goes

on. Your surrounding classmates become the people you rely on, compete against, and root

for. Sticking with your classmates and being completely involved with your teachers are crucial

in this learning environment. I sat down with Veronica who filled me in on her first year, "I

always rely on myself to figure things out but in this program, it's easier to have partners

because unfortunately, I don't know everything like I think I do." I got the sense that each

student felt like this because you can see how they lean on each other, learning from each

other. After each work day, except Friday’s, a majority of the students meet together at the

library on campus and have an open discussion about the cases each student worked through.

The essence of the meetups is to learn from one another, to relive that experience and take a

different strategy with the patient. The students may or may not always like each other but all

of the pride is put aside so everyone can learn from one another. That is what makes this group

special, they could leave each other to defend for themselves. This group sees the bigger

picture, putting their minds together they work like one unit.
 Being in the DMD program, the students develop this subculture between one another

creating this community that thinks collaboratively. When you observe them as a whole they

look like light blue ants moving all over the place, but still maintaining the structure. Receiving

the opportunity to experience the hard work of the future dentist and their teachers was

captivating insight. The process all starts in this large unembellished waiting room. The patient

walks to the back where they'll see a room with substantial space. In this space, there are

about fifty cubicles that have Hygiene Instruments (curettes and scalers), operative instruments

(cavity prep), surgical instruments (tissue forceps and pliers), and other miscellaneous

instruments that provide every dental procedure. I got an opening to sit down and talk to

Casey, year 3 DMD student, to ask her if she had realized the good service she was providing.

When I brought it to her attention that although she is learning how to better her craft she is

paying it forward. Casey pondered, “Of course I have considered my good because not

everyone can afford $100 bill from a dentist, so a lot of people ignore their oral health because

they don’t find it as important to the rest of the body.” The scholars understand that they

impact the community by aiming to excel in their craft every day while still providing a service

that could cost hundreds at a dentist office, for a drastically lower price.

CONCLUSION:

Spending some time at the UIC dental clinic brought awareness to this idea that a mass

majority of people believe that dental health is not taken seriously, and dental care can take a

toll. I got the impression that because of the possibilities and convenience the dental clinic

provides, more people can get educated about how pivotal oral health is. The scholars at the
clinic acknowledge their importance in the Chicago area and work side by side each other for 4

years to keep their good name intact. Their part in servicing the public is a duty they are proud

to serve for the betterment of themselves and incoming clients. Not everyone can bear the

expense of a simple cleaning or cavity fillings, UIC makes everyone comfortable, more educated

in oral health, and items to take home to promote maintaining good health. The scholars are

eager to tackle new ventures and continue to make a difference.

Works Cited

Atchison, Kathryn A., et al. “Bridging the Dental-Medical Divide: Case Studies Integrating Oral
Health Care and Primary Health Care.” Journal of the American Dental Association
(JADA), vol. 149, no. 10, Oct. 2018, pp. 850–858. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.030.

Simon, Lisa, et al. “Dental Student-Delivered Care at a Student-Faculty Collaborative Clinic in a

Correctional Facility.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 107, June 2017, pp. S85–
S87. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303793.